Saturday 13th - Sunday 21st December 2025
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – CYCLE A
PRISONER’S SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2025
COMPENDIUM OF THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 2)
CHAPTER TWO - God Comes to Meet Man
The Revelation of God
6. What does God reveal to man? 50-53 & 68-69
God in his goodness and wisdom reveals himself. With deeds and words, he reveals himself and his plan of loving goodness which he decreed from all eternity in Christ. According to this plan, all people by the grace of the Holy Spirit are to share in the divine life as adopted “sons” in the only begotten Son of God.
7. What are the first stages of God's Revelation? 54-58 & 70-71
From the very beginning, God manifested himself to our first parents, Adam and Eve, and invited them to intimate communion with himself. After their fall, he did not cease his revelation to them but promised salvation for all their descendants. After the flood, he made a covenant with Noah, a covenant between himself and all living beings.
8. What are the next stages of God's Revelation? 59-64 & 72
God chose Abram, calling him out of his country, making him “the father of a multitude of nations” (Genesis 17:5), and promising to bless in him “all the nations of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the divine promise made to the patriarchs. God formed Israel as his chosen people, freeing them from slavery in Egypt, establishing with them the covenant of Mount Sinai, and, through Moses, giving them his law. The prophets proclaimed a radical redemption of the people and a salvation which would include all nations in a new and everlasting covenant. From the people of Israel and from the house of King David, would be born the Messiah, Jesus.
9. What is the full and definitive stage of God's Revelation? 65-66 & 73
The full and definitive stage of God’s revelation is accomplished in his Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, the mediator and fullness of Revelation. He, being the only-begotten Son of God made man, is the perfect and definitive Word of the Father. In the sending of the Son and the gift of the Spirit, Revelation is now fully complete, although the faith of the Church must gradually grasp its full significance over the course of centuries.
“In giving us his Son, his only and definitive Word, God spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word, and he has no more to say.” (Saint John of the Cross)
10. What is the value of private revelations? 67
While not belonging to the deposit of faith, private revelations may help a person to live the faith as long as they lead us to Christ. The Magisterium of the Church, which has the duty of evaluating such private revelations, cannot accept those which claim to surpass or correct that definitive Revelation which is Christ.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS NOTICES
PARISH CHRISTMAS BAZAAR.
Thank you to everyone who came along last Sunday to our Christmas Bazaar. It was a great day and everyone seemed to have a joyful time.
A special thank you to everyone who helped set up and clear up and also to everyone who supported the with stalls. Thank you also to Father Christmas for making the event even more special.
The parish raised just under £600.00 which is fantastic!
PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD.
Please take a copy of the parish Christmas card from the porch if you haven’t already. It includes the full Advent & Christmas programme as well as a message from the parish priest.
JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY.
The Junior Youth group will have a Christmas party this Sunday at 10am in the church hall.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL.
If you would like to donate a gift to a child who will be spending Christmas in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, please see the poster in the porch for a list of acceptable items (no cuddly toys) and more information. Please leave gifts in the marked box in the porch.
KSC CHRISTMAS POSTERS.
The Knights of St. Columba will be handing out Christmas posters after all Sunday Masses this weekend and next. You are invited to display your poster in a prominent window to promote the reason for the season, the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION SUNDAY.
On Sunday 21st December the sacrament of reconciliation will be available from 12 noon until 3pm and will be available throughout the day on request. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
PARISH NOTICES
FHC 2026.
There will be a parents meeting this Sunday 14th December in the Church at 12.30pm.
CONFIRMATION 2026.
Application forms are still available for teenagers wanting to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2026. The deadline for application submission is the 25th December 2025. Please speak to the parish priest for more information.
RCIA & ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASSES - every Wednesday, till Easter 2026. Venue: Church Porch. Time: 7:15pm. Anyone can join to learn and/or refresh one’s knowledge and faith in God.
DEATH.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jenny Dunning who was a long-standing and devout parishioner. Her funeral was on the 12th December.
UCM MEETING.
There will be no more UCM meetings this year but the next meeting has been arranged for Saturday Feb 7th in the hall at 11.30am. New members are welcome. Refreshments will be available.
CHURCH CLEANING.
If you are able to help clean the church in preparation for Christmas, please see a member of the cleaning team after Friday morning Mass.
FOOD BANK.
Just a reminder that we always need donations for the Bexley Food Bank, especially in the winter. Donations can be placed in the porch. There is a sign where you can check what items are needed along with details of how you can make a financial donation if you wish. Please do not leave any perishable items. Donations are delivered to the food bank on Friday mornings.
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - YEAR A
Saturday 13th December
R St Lucy
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Christina O’Neill RIP
P THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
6.30 p.m. Joachim D’Souza RIP
Sunday 14th December P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Tim Guinee RIP
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls
Monday 15th December
P Feria
No Public Mass Today
Tuesday 16th December
P Feria
7 p.m. Daily Rosary
7.30 p.m. Holy Souls
Wednesday 17th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Wellbeing of Bernie
Thursday 18th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. John Smith RIP
Friday 19th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Rosary for the Dead
10.00 a.m. Annie Maywalsh RIP
Saturday 20th December
P Feria
9.30 a.m. Adoration
10.00 a.m. Denis Murphy RIP
P FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
6.30 p.m. Jenny Dunning RIP
Sunday 21st December P
8.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
9.00 a.m. Anna Sullivan PI
10.30 a.m. Daily Rosary
11.00 a.m. Holy Souls